Weak in Science. Looking for some Advice.

[teddybearkilla]

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I know it's early to be worrying, but in HS, my weakest subject were the science classes (bad chemistry teacher, didn't learn anything, and then hated it). Now, I wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my strongest suite.
Obviously going into the medical field, this could be a major problem. I've always had an interest in biology (my major) and physics, but not particulary strong in either. My question is were any of you the same way?
I know I should be asking fellow students this, but kind of anti-social. So, I'm coming here. Some of my teachers said they felt the same way. A few of them hated the subjects they are now teaching. How many of you went in not particulary fond of or talented in this area of study and ended up feeling differently about it later on? Good thing I still have plenty of time to switch, but this is the career I truly want.

 

[Van Chowder]

I know it's early to be worrying, but in HS, my weakest subject were the science classes (bad chemistry teacher, didn't learn anything, and then hated it). Now, I wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my strongest suite.
Obviously going into the medical field, this could be a major problem. I've always had an interest in biology (my major) and physics, but not particulary strong in either. My question is were any of you the same way?
I know I should be asking fellow students this, but kind of anti-social. So, I'm coming here. Some of my teachers said they felt the same way. A few of them hated the subjects they are now teaching. How many of you went in not particulary fond of or talented in this area of study and ended up feeling differently about it later on? Good thing I still have plenty of time to switch, but this is the career I truly want.

Your biggest obstacle is your premeditated failure at what ever it is you intend on pursuing. You cannot have that mind set that " you just cannot do it." Matter of fact, I was the exact same way with math, I hated it. But when Calc came along, I knew that my mind set was simply not going to cut it. Long story short, I opened my mind up and ended up scoring, by far the highest mark in the class.

A little tip for you science classes, do remember what specific things do, but rather, UNDERSTAND what they do and why they do it, and you will be MUCH better off!!

Good luck in your quest, and remember to think positive, as corny as it sounds, I am telling you from first hand experience!😀
( Will prolly help more with chem classes than bio)

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

I know it's early to be worrying, but in HS, my weakest subject were the science classes (bad chemistry teacher, didn't learn anything, and then hated it). Now, I wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my strongest suite.
Obviously going into the medical field, this could be a major problem. I've always had an interest in biology (my major) and physics, but not particulary strong in either. My question is were any of you the same way?
I know I should be asking fellow students this, but kind of anti-social. So, I'm coming here. Some of my teachers said they felt the same way. A few of them hated the subjects they are now teaching. How many of you went in not particulary fond of or talented in this area of study and ended up feeling differently about it later on? Good thing I still have plenty of time to switch, but this is the career I truly want.

The concept is pretty simple, if you are weak in something compared to other people, you need to study harder to catch up. Its like a fat kid needs to run more than the other kids to stay in shape.

And what do you do to catch up? Magical books. Its the old fashion way of learning since the Ming Dynasty.

 

[oaklandguy]

I was not weak in science coming out of high school to answer your question.

Advice: If you are weak in science don't major in it. You don't have to major in science to be pre-med. Major in something you like and study your butt off for the pre-reqs and whatever science you decide to take. Science in college is a little different than science in high school anyways.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Science in college is a little different than science in high school anyways.

Other than slightly more advanced topics, and being graded on a curve, not really.

 

[Yudid]

I know it's early to be worrying, but in HS, my weakest subject were the science classes (bad chemistry teacher, didn't learn anything, and then hated it). Now, I wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my strongest suite.
Obviously going into the medical field, this could be a major problem. I've always had an interest in biology (my major) and physics, but not particulary strong in either. My question is were any of you the same way?
I know I should be asking fellow students this, but kind of anti-social. So, I'm coming here. Some of my teachers said they felt the same way. A few of them hated the subjects they are now teaching. How many of you went in not particulary fond of or talented in this area of study and ended up feeling differently about it later on? Good thing I still have plenty of time to switch, but this is the career I truly want.

I was in the same situation... Science was never a strong side of mine. Hated math, didnt really liked bio, physics was just boring and chem was something strange. However, loved classes such as psychology, writing, and literature. It has been already more than two years since i am majoring in biology. Right now i love science and i feel even kind of weird when i take quarter off from chem. In my situation science became part of me, i guess that i just got used to it too much and i love it!😉

 

[oaklandguy]

Other than slightly more advanced topics, and being graded on a curve, not really.

In high school it wasn't as much about memorization as it was completely understanding a topic. In College, other than gen-chem, my science has consisted of memorizing formulas and memorizing biology like phyla and different enzymes etc. It's not a huge discrepancy, but it is definitely different. It may be harder or easier for the OP depending on what exactly are their weaknesses.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

In high school it wasn't as much about memorization as it was completely understanding a topic. In College, other than gen-chem, my science has consisted of memorizing formulas and memorizing biology like phyla and different enzymes etc. It's not a huge discrepancy, but it is definitely different. It may be harder or easier for the OP depending on what exactly are their weaknesses.

Nah.

High School IB Physics Book: Giancoli
College Physics Book: Giancoli

High School IB BIO Book: Neil Campbell
College BIO Book: Neil Campbell

High School IB Calc: Stewart
College Calc: Stewart

Genetics was mostly logic.

The only thing that had a lot of memorization was Organic Chemistry, thats because high school didn't have it. If they did, it would be the same thing.

 

[oaklandguy]

Nah.

High School IB Physics Book: Giancoli
College Physics Book: Giancoli

High School IB BIO Book: Neil Campbell
College BIO Book: Neil Campbell

High School IB Calc: Stewart
College Calc: Stewart

Genetics was mostly logic.

The only thing that had a lot of memorization was Organic Chemistry, thats because high school didn't have it. If they did, it would be the same thing.

Yeesh, that was probably very helpful for you. Unfortunately my school system did not work like that. Although I found my general chemistry book in high school more helpful and learned more in AP Chem than I did in college chemistry. I took organic in High School, granted it was 1 high school semester our book was better in HS than in College, but we covered way more in college so obviously much more memorization. We just had to remember the naming system in high school basically, and we started benzene rings and stereochemistry.

OP, I would take some science classes in college just to feel it out, see what grades you get, and then make a decision on what you want to do.

 

[LabMonster]

I know it's early to be worrying, but in HS, my weakest subject were the science classes (bad chemistry teacher, didn't learn anything, and then hated it). Now, I wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my strongest suite.
Obviously going into the medical field, this could be a major problem. I've always had an interest in biology (my major) and physics, but not particulary strong in either. My question is were any of you the same way?
I know I should be asking fellow students this, but kind of anti-social. So, I'm coming here. Some of my teachers said they felt the same way. A few of them hated the subjects they are now teaching. How many of you went in not particulary fond of or talented in this area of study and ended up feeling differently about it later on? Good thing I still have plenty of time to switch, but this is the career I truly want.

Funny how a bad teacher skews our thought on a subject? Screw 'em. Chemistry is fairly fun, it should be anyway. You may have a better teacher down the line - think positively.

Anyway - don't think about what you didn't like, think about what you like in science. Try to apply that concept to your classes.

I thought I hated physics. I found a way to relate physics to chemistry and biology and found it way more interesting. I also had a great mentor in physics willing to spend time relating physics to biologic systems... In HS I sucked at physics and did OK in chem, but finishing my pre-reqs I rocked them both.

I'm not sure where you are in college, but what about the arts? English? Cooking? Medicine is not the only profession that matters 😉

 

[LXS17]

I know it's early to be worrying, but in HS, my weakest subject were the science classes (bad chemistry teacher, didn't learn anything, and then hated it). Now, I wasn't horrible, it just wasn't my strongest suite.
Obviously going into the medical field, this could be a major problem. I've always had an interest in biology (my major) and physics, but not particulary strong in either. My question is were any of you the same way?
I know I should be asking fellow students this, but kind of anti-social. So, I'm coming here. Some of my teachers said they felt the same way. A few of them hated the subjects they are now teaching. How many of you went in not particulary fond of or talented in this area of study and ended up feeling differently about it later on? Good thing I still have plenty of time to switch, but this is the career I truly want.

At first, I absolutely hated Ochem. I failed the first exam and ended up with like a C+. Then I did research in Ochem. And rocked the Bio section of the mcat despite the fact that I only spent a month studying for it. (I have absolutely average scores in other sections.)

You just have to keep working at it. For physics/math/chem, do a lot of problems. For bio...i guess you actually have to memorize. For Ochem, look for patterns.

Good lucK!!!

 

[teddybearkilla]

Thanks for some of the advice guys. Seems like some of you are saying there will be alot of memorization will the Bio classes. I think that will work in my favor since that tends to be the way I study. Grasping concepts seems to be a bit tad harder for me, but that just means it will require more work of me. Not impossible to do. Yeah, thinking positively is what alot of people say to me, but I seem to be more negative mostly. Something else for me to work on.
Another poster stated (sorry, bad at this forum thing) that I shouldn't go into science since I'm weak in it. Well, besides chemistry, I've always enjoyed the subject. I may be weak in it, but just have to work my butt off to catch up with everyone else lol. Medical field may not be the only field out there, but it's one that I definitely want. My sister is already so far ahead of me (third year of medical school, rotations). Makes the road seem that much further lol.
Sorry for rambling there. My main point is that I'm just afraid adjusting to science in college will be difficult. My high school did nothing to prepare us for college. First of all, no exams or mid-terms ever. Seventy-five percent of my classes didn't have a test all year long. Teachers didn't check our work! For example, the history teacher took our work, glanced it, and gave us a credit (wierd grading system). I would work hard on a assignment, for it to be given a ten-second glance. Extensions would be given a ridiculous amount of time. Just to say, I eventually gave little effort and got the same exact grades lol.